The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 36: Claiming My Chosen Seat

Meredith.

"She was in a car accident," Kira said quietly, now folding one of my shawls.

I turned toward her slowly.

"It happened on an old road up the hill," she continued. "Her parents... didn’t make it. They died on the spot."

My lips parted, but no words came out.

Deidra picked up where Kira left off. "The Alpha was passing through that same road by coincidence and ended up saving her."

I blinked, heart thudding a little louder now. freёwebnoѵel.com

"Xamira was hospitalized for three days. When it became clear no relatives were coming to claim her, the government planned to send her to the orphanage." Deidra paused, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"But the little girl wouldn’t stop calling the Alpha ’Daddy.’ She wouldn’t calm down unless he was in the room."

"So... the humans allowed him to adopt her?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around it.

Kira nodded. "Yes. Because she trusted him. Only him. That’s why the Duskmoor government approved the adoption. It was... rare. But they saw how attached she was to him and had no choice."

My mind swam with the images from earlier—her smile, her arms around his neck, the way he spun her like she was something precious. I finally understood the connection between them.

"Come, my lady," Deidra said gently, changing the subject. "Let’s get you ready."

They helped me out of my dress in the bathroom, undoing the buttons and easing it off my shoulders. I stepped into the warm bath Azul had drawn earlier, the scent of lavender and vanilla oil already wafting up in soft curls of steam.

The moment the water touched my skin, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding.

"You may leave me alone for a bit," I murmured.

They hesitated—especially Azul—but after a few exchanged glances and my second nod, they stepped out of the room.

The door closed with a soft thud.

I sank lower into the water, letting it lap gently at my collarbones, heat settling into my bones.

Madame Beatrice would never have let me bathe alone. She would have criticized me along with my maidservants. With her, privacy was a privilege I never earned.

Now, Wanda was here. Different body, same chain. I wish she would ignore me completely.

I shut my eyes and pushed the thought away, letting the steam lull me into quiet, just for a minute of peace. I can’t wait to get this dinner over with.

A few minutes later, a soft knock on the door forced my eyes open.

"My lady, may I come in to give you your bath now?" Azul’s voice called gently from the other side, urgency tucked under her calm tone.

"Come in," I replied, knowing we didn’t have much time. Wanda’s warning refused to stop echoing in my ears.

Some minutes later, I sat before the vanity in my dressing room in a soft, modest pastel pink gown that flowed to the floor.

Deidra worked the hand dryer through my hair while Azul stood ready beside her with a small container.

"I will apply the balm to your scar now, my lady" she said gently.

I raised a hand. "No. I will do it later before bed."

Azul gave a brief nod and set it back on the vanity.

Kira and Deidra flanked me as we made our way to the dining room. The house felt too big, too quiet—like it was holding its breath.

When we entered, I noticed something instantly. Wanda, the great timekeeper, wasn’t even here yet.

Only the child, Xamira, sat at the table.

She was perched in the chair to the left of the head seat, swinging her legs slightly and watching me with open curiosity.

Kira stepped forward and pulled out the first chair to the Alpha’s right. I glanced at it... Then, I moved forward two steps.

I stopped in front of the third chair instead and set my hand on its back. "I will sit here."

There was a flicker of surprise behind Kira’s eyes, but she said nothing.

The silence lasted only a beat before Jeffery and Wanda appeared.

"That seat is yours," Jeffery said gently, gesturing to the chair I had just passed.

"I prefer this one," I insisted, my tone polite but firm.

Wanda folded her arms below her chest. "You are under Alpha’s Draven’s roof now, and you will follow the rules here. You will sit where you are placed. Unless—"

Her voice cut off the moment Draven walked in.

And just like that, the air in the room changed.

Before anyone else could speak, I sat gracefully, quietly claiming my chosen seat before they would tell me what to do. Immediately, I felt all eyes on me.

Even Kira stiffened beside me like I had chosen the wrong time to act confidently.

"What’s going on?" Draven asked, his voice calm but sharp enough to slice through the tension.

Wanda stepped forward, practically bristling. "She refuses to sit in the place assigned to her."

Silence followed as I lowered my gaze, ignoring everyone and pretending to be the only one in the room.

"Let her sit wherever she wants."

Instantly, my head snapped up at Draven’s statement.

Draven wasn’t looking at anyone else but Wanda. She blinked, lips parted in stunned disbelief.

"But Alpha, the rules—"

He raised his palm up, and she closed her mouth instantly. One order, and the conversation was over.

Then, Draven walked to his chair at the head and sat, calm and composed.

The others began to move. Kira and Deidra took several steps backward. Wanda gave me a dark look as she slid into the seat beside Xamira like she had just swallowed her own words.

Jeffery, however, remained standing, glancing between me and the two vacant chairs by Draven’s right.

Draven caught it. "You can sit here," he said, nodding to the chair I had turned down.

Jeffery blinked. "But Alpha, that is—"

"He isn’t here. You can sit here today."

Jeffery obeyed. He walked straight to the chair and settled down.

He who?

I didn’t ask, but the curiosity sank its claws into me. Was there someone else expected to sit in that chair?

The staff began to serve. Silver platters. Steaming dishes. Spoons clinking softly against porcelain.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Draven turn to Xamira and give her a smile. "Little pumpkin," he teased, tapping her nose.

She giggled.

Then, with all the innocence of a child and none of the tact of an adult, she pointed across the table to me.

"Daddy," she said loudly, "who is this woman?"

Instantly, I froze on the spot, every spoon in the room pausing mid-air.